What I did today 2018

[kitty12345]

Planted onion sets. Had leftovers so went round randomly planting them into the cabbage bed and brocolli bed. I'm sure I will regret this later and wonder why I thought it a good idea, but I didn't have the energy to dig another new bed to sow them in.

Not much else done today.

[Baldy]

Couple more beds covered in wood chippings then weed suppressant. Mostly all closed down for the Winter months now. Just a few diy projects to keep me occupied during the dark months...

[Small pumpkin]

another bed weeded and covered with weed fabric.
All the herbs cut back.
Shredded lots of things into the compost.
Emptied and refilled the dehydrator with chillies.
Cut down a couple more chilli plants.
Found 2 troms still growing on a plant in the little overflow bed ( old turkey run ).

[bario1]

A very heavy frost this morning on the plot, even the pond was iced over. Looks like that's the end for the nasturtiums and dahlias, I'll need to head back and do some clearing up later if I get a chance - far too cold to hang around down there, even if I'd had the time!

[bikermike]

Filled the last newly-built raised bed in the new half of the allotment.
Hoed, weeded and top-dressed a couple of beds
Used the bags the compost and horse poo to cover an area of grass for the next bed (covered in woochip and paving stones).
Sowed green manure. I did field beans, winter tares, and phaliocea (sp?), in several beds, then Hungarian grazing rye in just one. I've heard it can be difficult unless dug-in, so I'm keeping it contained for now).
Started to take down my bean frame

Debating whether to cover the compost etc in woodchip to try to keep animals at bay. Will see how much of the green manure germinates.

Need to start working out my plan for next year. Going to be away for two weeks at easter, so I'm wondering about not starting anything until I get back (and resigning myself to buying stuff) - it won't get watered whilst I am away

[Soupmaker]

Planted garlic cloves in container. Quick 10 minute job. That's enough gardening for today!

[bario1]

Nipped back down in my lunch break and cut down all my dahlias, chillies, gladioli and nasturtiums and composted the lot. Dug up my dahlia corms and put in a thick cardboard potato sack in the polytunnel for Winter. Lost track of time and the use of my fingers, got back to work 20 minutes late - oops!

[Bren In Pots]

Pulled out the last of the courgettes, weeded around the land cress and lettuce. Picked raspberries and toms.

[Jay-ell]

Took another 4 big bags of garden waste down to the plot. There is a fifth bag which needs to be shredded which I'll do later.

Layered these and the 5 that I took down Saturday into the compost pile. The core is still at 65 degrees from the stuff piled on on Wednesday, although it had dropped down a bit.

Off home for a cuppa and a bit of leisurely shredding.

[Small pumpkin]

Started emptying chilli pots and sieving the good stuff into bags. For reusing next year somewhere in the garden. 15 done. I don't want to know how many more to go!
A good deal of pottering about and mentally planning for next year.

[Logunner]

Picked up leaves, bloody loads of em... drowned 2 buckets of marestail roots.

Harvested last 5 cabbages and dug over the last of the plot.

[muck lover]

I used a few barrows of my lovely Muck to mulch a veggie bed which I then covered with leaves and a black landscaping fabric. Hope it will be nice for planting in spring.
Also disposed of poor dead mouse from polytunnel.

[1Bee]

Joy unconfined! The Great Hazel Harvest was a big success. I parked the car at the plot, picked up the loppers from the tool box, added them to the bowsaw, coffee, and packed lunch in my rucksack, and set off.

It was bitter, but the sun was out and gilding every leaf and a I felt very fortunate to be alive and livng where I do. Walked past the church where we were married 20 years ago and on down the hill towards the lonning. The lonning was thankfully fairly dry (it can be a quagmire) so it was easy to get to the dry bank on the edge of the wood where the good hazel stools were. Happily my loppers were more than capable of handling even 1.5" width poles, and it didn't take long to cut down and trim the dozen or so I needed, pausing now and then to toss sticks to passing dogs. I was pretty much out of sight to passing dog walkers, but the dogs kept leaping up the bank and behind the hedge to discover who was rustling in the undergrowth, much to the surprise of their owners.

I sat down and had a coffee and a biscuit, then cannibalised some straps from my rucksack to bind the poles. I had string with me, but thought the straps would work better, which they did. I then tossed the bundle down into the lane, clambered down after it and hoisted it on my shoulder.

Ow.

I have issues with my neck and shoulders anyway, so I knew this was going to be painful, and so it was, but it was satisfying, too - I like working hard and exertion, and when I was younger I used to lead conservation work parties so this was a lovely nostalgic activity for me. Half a mile further on I stopped, propped my burden against a venerable oak and wandered onto a secluded footpath to sit down and enjoy my soup and bread. As I sat, a skein of geese passed overhead, easily 100+, the biggest I've seen this year, although they've been passing for weeks now. I toasted success to their journey and started the last plod to the plot.

Once there I set the bundle on top of the compost bays, swore a lot at my shoulder, sat down for some more coffee and had a cuddle with Not Our Cat.

Job done.

[Small pumpkin]

Finished sorting and bagging seeds for circles and swaps. Just need stamps now.
Wrapped Monty (Dorset Naga) with fleece. Bob will have to help put a bit more fleece on top. I can't reach by myself.

[Jay-ell]

Popped down to the Peoples Kitchen to drop Humph off (named after the noise I made when lifting him).

Dropped him off at just the right time.

When I took him in the lady shouted "Karen - you know that pumpkin soup you wanted to make? Will this do?"

A head popped out from behind a door and cried "Oooh yes".

Now I've only got Ernie (also named after the sound I made when lifting him) to dread cooking